Demand for food stamps rises sharply

As the economy faces tough times, demand for food stamps has risen sharply — 11 percent since last July — according to figures from Buncombe County’s Department of Social

The numbers also reveal that the county’s seen 2,226 more recipients for food stamps in the same period. Though the increase began before the sharpest pangs of the first economic crisis were felt, there’s been a 21 percent increase in food-stamps cases since July 2007.

In the same time period, the amount of food-stamp payments has also ballooned. In July 2007, they stood at $1.8 million a month. Now they’ve shot up to $2.6 million. That’s an increase of more than 41 percent.

At a retreat this weekend, county staff noted that demand for all services is rising considerably and that they would try to meet the increased demand with fewer resources as the county grapples with the need for budget cuts.